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Bayern Munich crowned Champions of Europe
Arjen Robben’s late winner banished Bayern Munich’s bitter Champions League memories with victory over Borussia Dortmund in an enthralling encounter at Wembley.
Bayern Munich are the Champions of Europe for a fifth time after beating Borussia Dortmund (Reuters)
Bayern had lost two finals in the last three years – including a defeat on penalties in their own Allianz Arena to Chelsea 12 months ago – but the agony and the waiting is over as they came out on top in this all-Bundesliga meeting to claim the crown for the fifth time.
It could be part of a perfect farewell for veteran Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, who is standing down at the end of the season to hand over to Pep Guardiola as the Spaniard makes his return to the game following a sabbatical after leaving Barcelona.
Heynckes will have the chance to bow out with a Treble, with Bayern having already won the league and playing in the German Cup final next weekend. And it was redemption for a tearful Robben after playing in those losing finals against Inter Milan and former club Chelsea, when he missed an extra-time penalty, as well as two semi-final defeats to Liverpool in 2005 and 2007 during his career at Stamford Bridge.
Robben stole onto Franck Ribery’s flick in the 89th minute to show great composure to beat Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller to finally exorcise the demons that have haunted him.
He also created Mario Mandzukic’s opener for Bayern on the hour – but Dortmund were always in contention in a Champions League final that merely confirmed the Bundesliga as the major force in European football.
Ilkay Gundogan equalised from the penalty spot after Dante’s foul on Marco Reus but the last word went to Robben in a competition that has been so cruel to him in the past.
Dortmund, led by charismatic coach Jurgen Klopp, were left to regret not taking full advantage of their early supremacy when they were only kept at bay by the brilliance of Bayern’s Germany keeper Manuel Neuer. The intense pressing style that is the trademark of Klopp’s team pushed Bayern onto the back foot in the opening phases and left Dortmund counting the cost of not taking at least one of those chances.
As Bayern struggled to find any momentum, Sven Bender forced Neuer into action again before the favourites finally started to mount a response. Mandzukic had contributed little up to that point but demonstrated his threat with a header from Ribery’s cross that Weidenfeller touched on to the bar. Robben then had the best opportunity so far as he raced clear with only Weidenfeller to beat but the keeper spread himself to keep the Netherlands forward out.
Neuer then denied Lewandowski from the angle before Robben reacted first to a dropping ball in the area, only to see his effort strike Weidenfeller full in the face and rebound to safety.
Bayern had been a growing threat after a poor start and the breakthrough finally came on the hour when Ribery played in Robben and his cross gave Mandzukic the simplest of tasks to finish from six yards.
Dortmund required a swift response and it came inside seven minutes – thanks to a piece of recklessness from Dante.
The Bayern defender, who had already been booked, needlessly raised his foot and caught Reus in the stomach. Gundogan stepped forward to score coolly from the spot.
It then took a magnificent piece of last-ditch defending from Neven Subotic to keep Dortmund on terms. Thomas Mueller rounded Weidenfeller and his shot looked destined for the net until the lunging Subotic somehow recovered to clear.
Robben was perhaps guilty of failing to finish the job off as he raced into the physical challenge with Subotic, whose work brought a fierce fist-pumping reaction from Klopp in a demonstration of how important it might prove.
Both goalkeepers had been outstanding throughout and it was Weidenfeller’s turn to demonstrate his ability once more with fine stops from David Alaba and Bastian Schweinsteiger as this enthralling Champions League final drew towards the 90-minute mark.
It was Robben, at last, who made the decisive contribution, taking Ribery’s flick in his stride to poke a finish past the heroic figure of Weidenfeller.
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